Cushing N. Dolbeare, who spent more than half a century as an advocate for low-income Americans priced out of the nation's housing market, has died. She was 78. Dolbeare died Thursday of cancer at her home in Mitchellville, Md. After the Nixon administration's temporary suspension of all programs for low-income housing in 1973, Dolbeare formed a national organization to highlight that need.

Question: Several months ago, we had to break our lease because my husband was transferred to a new job. We worked very closely with the landlords and were able to locate several prospective tenants. The landlords made their choice, and a new lease was signed with the new tenants. We've received a letter from our former landlords stating that the new tenants changed their mind and are not moving into the house. The landlords say our lease is now reactivated, and we must continue paying the rent.

After drugs fell short in helping their patient cope with emotional and mental problems, the three doctors prescribed another therapy for the woman. They suggested she get a dog. So the 52-year-old woman brought Lady, a poodle, into her Anaheim apartment building, which had a ban on dogs. When the landlord complained about Lady, the woman reluctantly took her to a kennel. And then, the woman carved the dog's name into her arm and attempted suicide. While at the kennel, the ailing Lady died.

Question: My new lease came with new house rules. One of the rules says: "No children are allowed in the laundry room." My single neighbor did not get this rule with his new lease. I have small children and would not feel comfortable leaving them alone in my apartment when I do laundry. Can the resident manager stop me from taking my children to the laundry room?

Bowing to complaints from mental health workers and patients, fairgrounds officials have removed the "insane asylum" portion of the Scream Zone haunted house. Del Mar Fairgrounds spokesman Steve Fiebing said he received about two dozen phone calls and e-mails from people who said the psychotic patient character in the annual Halloween display was demeaning and offensive.

In issuing a preliminary injunction barring real estate magnate Donald Sterling from using "Korean" in the names of his apartment buildings, U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz sent an unambiguous message to landlords regionwide: Housing discrimination, however subliminal, will not be tolerated. Sterling, better known as the owner of pro basketball's Los Angeles Clippers, owns about 100 apartment buildings in Southern California.

Question: The owner of the rental property I manage wants to add a rental agreement clause requiring the tenants to be responsible for plumbing repairs regardless of the cause. I thought repairs were the responsibility of the landlord. Am I right? Answer: State of California Civil Code 1941.1 and the Uniform Housing Code specify the repairs for which a property owner is responsible. Operable plumbing is one of the required standards.

Linda Gagne and her husband, Alfred, thought they had found the perfect apartment in San Bruno, Calif. But when the couple met the landlord, she took one look at Gagne's guide dog and said she would not rent to them because of a strict no-pets policy. Gagne explained that her guide dog was not a pet, but a companion trained to assist her because she is blind. When the landlord still refused, Gagne decided to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Question: I've decided to sell the rental house I own. The tenants have a lease that will not expire for nine months. In exchange for a rent reduction, they have agreed to be flexible and allow the real estate agent to show the property with little or no advance notice. Can the tenants be required to move after the property is sold?

Question: My 10-year-old granddaughter must stay with me for a few months while her parents work out their marital problems. The mobile home park manager said that since the park is an adults-only park, she could not stay more than 10 days. If she stayed longer, I would be served a three-day notice to move because no one under the age of 18 is allowed. He said this was part of the "child visitation policy" at the park, which could not be amended. I don't want to lose my housing.